The enrolment of pupils in government primary schools in ilala district in Tanzania: the impact of large enrolment on teaching process

This study on the large enrolment of pupils in government primary schools in Ilala District in Tanzania and it’s impacts on the teaching process was conducted under the need for improvement of primary school performance. The objective of this study was to investigate how large enrolment has been affecting teaching process especially in government primary schools in particular after the introduction of Primary Education Development Plan which focused on the expansion of primary education enrolment. This study employed qualitative research approach, with interview, observation and documentary review. A total of forty-two respondents were covered in the study: three head teachers, nine teachers and thirty pupils from standard four to six (boys and girls) aged 11 and 13 from three primary schools in Ilala district. Firstly, the study identified that there were increase in enrolment at primary schools; the study further revealed that a teacher reached to the stage of teaching 90-120 pupils in one class. Secondly, the study identified that the available facilities was not enough to accommodate the large enrolment. Furthermore, the study examined the impacts of large enrolment on the teaching process and found that one of the solutions to improve teaching process should focus on addressing the enrolment issues to match the available resources. The study revealed that large enrolment led inefficient in the teaching process and discipline deterioration. The government, therefore, need to address the enrolment issues by training more teachers and improve infrastructure in order to attain quality education in primary schools. It recommended that, the government should allocate enough funds in educational budget in order to facilitate the teachers training and recruitment for primary schools.